This article helps you read the SmilyPay payout export from Smily’s Finance section, especially the balance column. It is written for accounting and reconciliation needs.

Where to download the export

1. Go to Finance
2. Open Completed payouts (payouts already sent) or Upcoming payouts (scheduled payouts)
3. Click Export to download the CSV

1) What a “payout” is in SmilyPay

A payout is the weekly transfer (usually on Monday) that sends money from your SmilyPay account to your bank account.

One payout can contain:

• Several bookings paid by SmilyPay
• Fees (for example SmilyPay processing fees)
• Sometimes adjustments or deductions

The export lists the payout details line by line, so you can understand what was included.

2) What the balance column means

Simple definition

balance is the original amount for that export line.

• Positive balance means “this line adds money to the payout.”
• Negative balance means “this line is a deduction/adjustment.”

This column is important because some payouts include deductions that cannot be paid out as a negative bank transfer. In those cases, you might otherwise see confusing “0” amounts without any explanation.

3) Why you might see 0 even when something happened

Banks cannot send a “negative payout.”

So if a line is negative, the amount actually transferred for that specific line is 0, but the negative value still exists and impacts the net payout.

Formula used (per row)

Think of it like this:

• Balance (raw):

  balance = raw amount for the line

• Amount actually paid out for that line:

  paid out amount = max(balance, 0)

So:

• If balance = 1200, then paid out amount = 1200
• If balance = -200, then paid out amount = 0

4) How “normal” SmilyPay booking payout lines are calculated

For standard booking lines paid via SmilyPay, the payout amount is calculated as:

Payout amount = Payment amount paid online − SmilyPay gateway fees

That means:

• You start from what the guest paid online (through SmilyPay)
• SmilyPay processing fees are deducted
• The remaining amount is what is paid out for that booking

5) Examples (common scenarios)

Example A — Standard SmilyPay payment (no deductions)

A guest pays €1,000 through SmilyPay.

SmilyPay gateway fees are €25.

• Payment amount paid online: €1,000
• SmilyPay fees: €25
• Booking payout amount: €975

What you will typically see in the export

• A row with a positive balance around €975
• That same amount is included in the payout sent to your bank

This matches the formula: 1,000 − 25 = 975.

Example B — A payout includes a deduction (negative line)

In the same weekly payout, there is also an adjustment of −€200.

Your payout contains:

• Booking 1 line: balance = +975
• Adjustment line: balance = −200

How much is paid out per line

• Booking 1 paid out: max(975, 0) = 975
• Adjustment paid out: max(-200, 0) = 0

What this means

• You do not receive a “−€200 transfer.”
• Instead, the deduction reduces what the overall payout can represent, and it explains why totals may look lower than expected.

This is exactly why balance exists: so the deduction is visible instead of looking like a mysterious “0.

Example C — “Why does one booking look lower than expected?” (deduction absorbed in the same payout)

Imagine a payout has two bookings:

• Booking A: balance = +1,200
• Booking B: balance = +300
• Deduction/adjustment: balance = −200

If you only looked at what was transferred, you might feel like “one booking paid for another booking’s problem.”

What to do

• Look for negative balance lines in the same payout period.
• Those negative lines often explain why the net payout amount (or the apparent amounts) are lower.

The export is showing the net reality of a payout that can include multiple bookings and adjustments.

Example D — Cancelled booking / refund and fees (why deductions can appear)

In some cases, a booking is refunded (fully or partially). Depending on the situation, there can be:

• Refund movements
• Fees that still apply
• Deductions that show up in a later payout

If you notice a payout that includes negative balances, it can be linked to refunds or adjustments happening in the same period or carried over.

(If you need to explain a specific booking, the fastest approach is to check the date range covering the payout and search in the CSV for the booking reference and any negative lines.)

6) How to reconcile payouts using the export (customer-friendly method)

When reconciling with your bank:

1. Work payout by payout (using payout date / payout reference).
2. In that payout, identify:
   • All positive lines (money going to you)
   • Any negative balance lines (deductions/adjustments)
3. If something looks “missing,” it is often explained by a negative balance line in the same payout scope.

7) Key takeaways

• balance shows the raw amount of an export line, and it can be negative.
• A negative balance line will not be paid out directly, so it can appear as 0 paid out.
• For normal SmilyPay booking lines, payout is Payment amount paid online − SmilyPay gateway fees.
• If a payout looks confusing, search for negative balance lines first. They often explain the discrepancy.